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Free dash and knob kit with your order

Retrosound makes kits with faceplates and knobs that match the interiors of a wide range of classic vehicles. Please enter your vehicle information to find the faceplate kit for your classic car. If your vehicle doesn't appear in our database, call us at 1-888-955-6000 so we can find the right kit for your dash.

Old school looks, new technology

Now you can get a receiver that matches the look and fit of the factory radio in your vintage vehicle, yet allows you to enjoy your iPod®, satellite radio, or other portable music player in your classic ride. Retrosound designed the Model One digital media receiver to mount in almost any classic car, using an ingenious adjustable shaft system that adapts to any dash opening. And the Model One is available in black or chrome, so you'll have a perfect match for your classic car's interior. (Note: the Model One does not play CDs.)

Chrome model shown — also available in black.

Connect your iPod, MP3 player, or satellite radio

The Model One looks like an old-fashioned radio, but it offers all the modern conveniences. You can connect your iPod, MP3 player, or portable satellite radio to the front auxiliary input. Play your MP3 and WMA files you've loaded on a USB thumb drive or SD™ card — Retrosound includes a handy little card reader that you can mount it in a convenient spot. The Model One also offers excellent AM/FM reception, and will display song titles from any radio station that's broadcasting text information.

Installation options

Two sets of preamp outputs make it easier to add amps and subs. The Model One also comes with a U-bracket for mounting the radio under the dash or in any other convenient spot. And with the addition of the optional 94" remote extension cord, you can even install the Model One in a hidden location. Retrosound includes an RF (Radio Frequency) remote, so no line of sight is needed — great for trunk installations.

More classic car dash views

Check out these shots of the Retrosound Model One installed in classic American and European vehicles.

Other features and specs:

Why replace your factory radio?

Two good reasons - sound quality and cool features. A new car stereo offers power that's superior to most factory radios, along with more sophisticated tone controls. And most car stereos offer built-in or optional features that add safety and fun to life in your car, including inputs for your iPod or MP3 player, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free cell phone calls, satellite radio or HD Radio reception, and connections for building an audio system in your car.

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Retrosound Model One

Written By Anonymous, Blackwell, Oklahoma on Thursday, February 27, 2014

Retrosound Model One in 1964 Plymouth Belvedere

I decided to modernize my 50-year-old Plymouth's audio system by replacing the worn out, cheapo AM/FM/cassette deck with a digital radio that would allow me to get rid of the pile of cassette tapes I carried in the car and replace them with a USB flashdrive loaded with MP3 music files. I wanted to maintain the original look of my dash, though, and not have to enlarge the original dash opening. The Retrosound Model One was just what I was looking for. The radio's display head fit into the dash opening easily, and the universal shaft mounting kit allowed me to space the shafts to fit the dash's shaft holes. The installation went smoothly. I spent extra time carefully adjusting how far the shafts extended out of the brackets so I would not have to keep installing and removing the radio from the dash to fine tune the shafts' extensions. It fit perfectly first try. The Retrosound European style faceplate and knob kit attractively blend the radio display into the dash opening. The wiring connections were easy to do, and the radio worked fine right from the start. The AM/FM radio stations come in clearly. I only rarely listen to the radio, though, preferring to play my favorite music instead. I loaded about 75 CD's worth of my favorite music files onto a 32GB flashdrive, which plugs into a USB connector on the rear of the radio. I just LOVE being able to listen to my favorite music without having to change a cassette tape every ninety minutes or so! Thanks, Retrosound!

Pros:Nicely made radio unit. It feels nice and solid. The universal mounting bracket for the shafts made it easy to adjust both the width and extension of the shafts to match up with the original dash opening in my vintage Plymouth. The display and dual shafts look similar to the car's original radio. The radio works well. It's great being able to play huge numbers of MP3 music files from a tiny flashdrive. I like that the Retrosound knobs were metal and not cheap plastic. A nicely thought-out radio.

Cons:I wish Retrosound would have put a piece of that thin, clear protective film over the face of the display to protect it from possible scratches during installation. I also wish the shafts would have been maybe another half-inch or so longer to provide just a few more threads for the shaft nuts to screw onto to secure the faceplate. Aside from those two nitpicks, I have no other negatives to say about the Model One.

Awesome Retro Radio

My husband is rebuilding a 1986 Jeep CJ7. The original radio was not operable and he wanted to keep the jeep as original as possible. The radio was easy to install plus the sound is out of this world. Thanks for helping me keep my husband happy!

Retrospund Model One

Written By SVM, Rhode Island on Saturday, September 21, 2013

"Coolness Factor"

Build Quality

Ease of Use

Sound Quality

Value

This is the second retro model one radio installed in my 57' Silver Cloud RR. I l wanted the features thsi radio has, inconspicuous looks, knobs, and the ability to play mp3 media. The first one tanked during the first 2 weeks. The second one was bad right out of the box. The screen is displaying all of the LED figures simultaneously. Cost me a fortune so far at the Rolls dealer installing these both radios, they were cool and charged only an hour on the second install. All connections are soldered and heat shrinked tubed, etc. I should have bought a Blauplunkt..... BTW, Crutchfield was great on the first return. Lets see how this second one goes.

Retrosound Model One

It looks very cool and the concept is great, but for the money it should sound much better. The flash drive interaction is difficult to work through. Not a bad radio, but not a great one either for the price.

Pros:Looks good in an older car. It can fit about any dash opening.

Cons:Sound quality sould be better and the flash drive is hard to navagate through.

Functions are basic, looks are great. Expensive.

Installed in a 72 GMC pickup, didn't want to cut the dash. It's a really neat, flexible design and I can see how it would fit in pretty much anything. That, however, does make it a pain to install. Trying to get it centered and flush took some time, just like the manual says. The functions are pretty basic. No separate sub out means you can't control the sub volume from the unit. No built-in crossover. No adjustable EQ except bass and treble. Really basic functions for the cost. But, the build quality is really good and it does look great installed. It's not for audiophiles because of the lack of sound control features. Truly only for those that absolutely don't want to cut their dash. Otherwise you can get way way way more for less money. I gave it a 2 overall. If you don't mind some of the issues I've listed and just want something that looks great, sounds decent and fits without cutting your dash - I'd probably give it a 4.

Nice Option For Older Cars You Dont Want To Cut Up

Written By C-Rad, Sacramento, Ca on Friday, August 09, 2013

"Coolness Factor"

Build Quality

Ease of Use

Sound Quality

Value

Nice radio with options to add amps and usb, etc hookups... Seems cheaply made... I have only used it a few times so far and its working fine... The controls could be a little more sensitive, such as pushing functions... Retrosound seams to be the only game on the market for new style shaft radios... I liked the ease of installation and options for faceplates... I do like the remote mount usb, sd, and headphone jack...

Nice shaft unit

For a shaft unit, I can't ask for much more. In a '61 Corvette I haven't seen a deck look better, and the versatility in the mounting is pretty slick. Ran mine into an amp, so I can't speak to its internal amp quality, but other than that I am satisfied so far. I have always had bad luck with all the shaft units I have dealt with until this. No need in a tape, so the convenience of aux-in as well as USB, SD, and an extra aux is a nice change. Hope it keeps working...

Cons:Can take a bit to get a handle on the mounting setup sine you gotta line up the knobs just right. Hard to describe if you haven't had your hands on one. Not so much a "con" as it is just a learning curve.

It's ok

The renovation is cool and still have the vintage look at the same time, but for the price they could have at least used better quality material....just another Asian import with new update gadgets to update audio sound.

Inoperative out of the box

Unit powered up to display every possible LED illuminated. Tried cycling power to no effect. No sound output detected and no ability to alter the messed up display. This was at the hands of the best installer in town, and I also witnessed the malfunction. The installer went into great detail about how low quality it appeared the construction was (For example, parts not threaded deep enough or properly threaded making the install very difficult). I am now waiting for a replacement unit to ship but I'm out the money for the failed install attempt. Very disappointed right now and reluctantly giving retrosound one more chance.

Pros:Fits nicely in the stock opening of an old Chevy Blazer

Cons:Inoperative right out of the box. Box was not damaged, so have to assume there is zero quality control at the factory. Come on people!

Retro Sound

Crutchfield has the best price since it includes the faceplate and knobs. Unit looks great and really provides the factory look I was looking for. Sound quality is good for what I have in it. I noticed the light dimming a little at first but it could just be my eyes. I had it professionally installed and looks great. Having that factory classic look and new age media ability is definately awesome.

Great value for older cars

Installed this in a 1967 Camaro. Install went fairly smoothly, only issue was adjusting the post/knobs to line up with the faceplate correctly. After a few attempts, everything was done. Looks great, sounds good.

Pros:ease of install, retro look with modern options

Cons:not iPod compatible, cost was a little high compared to new aftermarket radios (though worth it for the retro look)

Pleased with Retrosound Model One

Got this specifically to match the interior and fit the shallow dash of a Land Rover Defender. It is perfect on both counts. It comes with plenty of output/input options. I clipped off everything I didn't need, and it eliminated a lot of bulky wiring. The tuner shafts and mounting hardware allowed me to make a custom faceplate and have infinite adjustment options. I can't address high-end sound quality, because of the nature of the vehicle and the speakers. For my vehicle and speakers, it's just great.

Pros:Extra mounting hardware selection included. Very compact receiver. Has various trim kits for faceplate and knobs. Only good option I found that looks original in an older vehicle. Lots of input/output options and clear instructions.

Restrosound Radio

Written By Terry, Plano TX on Friday, May 11, 2012

"Coolness Factor"

Build Quality

Ease of Use

Sound Quality

Value

This unit is terrible! The unit I originally purchased had problems with the power antenna. I thought it was the antenna, and Crutchfield replaced that for me. Radio still had the same problem. I sent the radio back to California and they sent me a new one. The new one now starts to seek for a new channel, or just quits producing sound completely, as you are listening to the current channel. The quality of this unit is way below sub par!

Woody 68 camaro

Someone had cut the dash out of my 68 camaro to mount a new cd player.not original looking at all.The Retrosound one comes with the hardware for several apps,the faceplate has the knob holes of an older stereo and when installed it almost looks original and it takes an sd card or flash drive,not to mention the am/fm radio. With new speakers added my camaro looks and sounds well preserved. thanks guys!

Retrosound Model One

Written By Eric, R, Boise, ID on Monday, September 19, 2011

Great product. Installation was a little difficult and time consuming in my '68 Bug, but in combination with their kick panels and Retro Sound speakers it sounds absolutely amazing. Wiring was clearly marked and easily understood and instructions were relatively easy to understand when looking at the unit. Highly recommended.

retrosounds one

Written By Ted G, Foresthill md on Sunday, September 11, 2011

I purchased this 2years ago , crutchfield replaced it once because of dim display. I like this radio dont get Me wrong but recently it started to turn on and off when driving down the road, after checking voltages and changing posts (retrosounds suggestions) I sent it back to california, I live in maryland. The president of the company said that even though that it was out of warranty He would take care of it and that retrosound don't sell junk. The unit was bad and Retrosounds offered to sell Me a refurbished one. I bought another from a different website. Again i like this radio but I think it should have lasted more than 2 years in a chevelle that gets used very little. This review was with owning the unit for 2 1/2 years hopfully the new one will last longer than their first offering......Ted G

Agood option for older vehicles

Generally a good product, the instructions were fairly clear, especially, when looking at
the unit. Installation was fairly easy, the only low point was a slight difficulty getting the
shaft washers to snap into the brackets, since the slots were made too tight for easy fit.
The remote is a neat feature. It helps a lot since the radio in my 70 F-100 is a long reach
from the driver. As for sound, given the basic limitations of a single dash dual voice coil
speaker, and the tin can nature of a 70 F-100, it sounds great. I'm pleased with it

Retrosound Model One

Really nice radio. Gives you modern technology in your old classic. Installation was easy. The mounting system allows for many different positions for the perfect fit. I'm glad I found this radio system for my old car.

Product Research

Overview: The RetroSound Model One is a classic car
shaft-style radio offering flexible mounting options using an Infinimount
shaft/bracket system (patent pending). The RetroSound Model One offers dual auxiliary
inputs, USB port for MP3/WMA
digital file playback from popular USB flash devices (thumb-drives), SD-card
slot, and a built-in AM/FM tuner. The shaft-style radio also features two pair
of preamp outputs for adding external amplifiers to your classic car. The Model
One was created to meet the needs of classic car enthusiasts for a radio that
maintains the classic in dash look of the vehicle while offering modern playback
capabilities from today's digital music sources. The Model One also comes with
an RF remote control, so you hide the radio in your classic car to keep its
original look and stock appearance, while still controlling it with ease.

Note: The RetroSound Mode One is available with a Chrome or Black
faceplate to match to match your classic car's dash.

Shaft-Style Mounting System

Infinimount Shaft/Bracket System: The Infinimount Shaft/Bracket System
allows you to mount the Model One radio in more classic cars. This is because
the shaft-knobs are not mounted to the unit, but instead connect to the unit via
a harness so you can space the radio's shaft knobs at various distances from the
chassis of the
radio (0.3125"-2.1875") using the supplied side-mount brackets. This insulated bracket and external shaft system also helps to reduce
electrical noise inherent in older vehicles.

Available Installation Kits: The unit can be mounted virtually anywhere due
to its small 4.0625" wide x 5.75" deep x 2.0625" tall overall
footprint. Advanced installers can even unscrew the Model One's faceplate and
adjust its cant/angle to allow for even more customization. There are multiple
vehicle specific faceplate & knob kits available (sold separately), as well as
an universal faceplate that fits the Model One which allows you to use the
integrated break away tabs to modify all aspects of height & width of the plate,
and even drill in your own shaft holes to fit virtually any car. This radio is a
true problem solver for tough to fit applications due to its unique bracket
system combined with small mounting size.
Universal and Vehicle Specific Installation Dash and Knob kits are
available.

Note: The RetroSound Model One does not come with a universal mounting bracket or shaft-knobs. A universal mounting kit or vehicle specific mounting kit will be needed for installation.

Display Features

LCD Display: The RetroSound Model One features an LCD display with a
digital read-out.

Audio Section

Preamp Outputs: The universal shaft-style receiver has two pair of
2.85-volt preamp outputs (Front and Rear). Each preamp output is connected to the
unit's rear-chassis by a 8" pigtail.

Sound Adjustments: The RetroSound Model One has many sound adjustments
modes to help you tailor the radio to your audio preference. You can choose to
adjust the following settings.

DSP: You can adjust the unit's DSP modes to Classic, Pop,
Rock, or Off (Flat).

Bass: The Bass adjustment function allows you to boost or cut the
low frequencies from -7 to +7.

Treble: The Treble adjustment function allows
you to boost or cut the high frequencies from -7 to +7.

Balance: The Balance adjustment function allows you to adjust or
pan the stereo sound from the left or right; this is helpful to compensate
for the position of the driver in relation to the speaker locations.
Adjustment range is 0 to 10.

Fader: The Fader Control allows you to fade the sound from the
front pair of speaker to your rear pair of speakers. Adjustment range is 0
to 10.

Loudness: This function boosts bass and treble at low listening
volume (this feature should be turned off at higher volumes).

Audible Confirmation: You can turn the units audible confirmation
(beep tone) On or Off.

AM/FM Radio

AM/FM Tuner: The Model One features a built-in AM/FM digital tuner
with RDS.

Preset Tuning: The unit's tuner features 3 FM bands and 2 AM bands. A total of 30 AM/FM presets
can be stored manually or automatically.

Stereo/Mono: Selecting between these function can aid in listening to
weak FM radio stations that keep switching between Stereo and Mono broadcasts.

Local/DX: Selecting between these functions can aid in listening to
weak FM radio stations or compensate for stations that have to strong of a
signal.

European Tuning: The RetroSound Model One has the
capability to receive FM broadcasts frequencies in other countries. This unit's
tuner can be set to USA or European tuning.

RDS: The RDS function of this radio is always active. If the FM
station you are listening to is broadcasting RDS information, the radio station
call letters, song info, artist info, and other messages will appear on the
unit's LCD display.

Note: Not all FM stations use RDS.

PTY Function: RDS has a function called PTY (Program Type): this
coding of up to 31 pre-defined program types allow you to find similar
programming by genre. When the tuner searches for this desired programming type,
the tuner will study all strong FM stations to see what programming type they
are broadcasting. If the programming type is found, the radio will select it.

Media Playback

Remote Mountable SD/USB/AUX Input Module:
The RetroSound Model One includes an external SD/USB/AUX input module which
allows audio playback from SD/SDHC memory cards, USB thumb-drives, and portable
audio devices. The external input module can be mounted under the dash so its
easily accessible, while the Model One is hidden away to keep your vehicle's
stock appearance. The external input module features an attached 22" cable which
plugs into the radio's rear-panel 3.5mm auxiliary input and proprietary 8-pin
USB/SD port.

USB Port: The external module features a USB type-A
port so you can plug in your USB
flash/thumb-drive (up to 32GB). Once you've connected your USB flash/thumb-drive,
the Model One will find your songs instantly and automatically start playing
them. You will be able to control basic playback functions of your music files
such as Play, Pause, Skip Track, Intro Scan, Repeat Track and Random. This unit
supports the following music files via a USB flash/thumb-drive in format FAT and
FAT32 - MP3 (128 kbps or more recommended)) and WMA (64 kbps or more
recommended). The unit can recognize a maximum of 999 songs/files (files will be
read in order of creation and not alphabetically or numerically). The Model One also support MP3/WMA song information. This
function allows you to view the track name, album, and artist information.

Note: The unit's USB
port does not support iPod or iPhone. Files with copy right protection and files encoded using
Apple Lossless Encoder are not playable via USB.

SD-card Slot: The external module features a SD-card
slot so you can insert your SD or SDHC memory card (up to 32GB). Once you've connected your
SD/SDHC memory card,
the Model One will find your songs instantly and automatically start playing
them. You will be able to control basic playback functions of your music files
such as Play, Pause, Skip Track, Intro Scan, Repeat Track and Random. This unit
supports the following music files via a SD/SDHC memory card in format FAT and
FAT32 - MP3 (128 kbps or more recommended)) and WMA (64 kbps or more
recommended). The unit can recognize a maximum of 999 songs/files (files will be
read in order of creation and not alphabetically or numerically). The Model One also support MP3/WMA song information. This
function allows you to view the track name, album, and artist information.

Note: This unit also supports Mini and Micro SD cards via an
SD-card adapter. Files with copy right protection and files encoded using
Apple Lossless Encoder are not playable via USB or SD/SDHC.

Aux Inputs: The external module features a 3.5mm auxiliary input for
connecting a portable external audio source such as a MP3 player or portable CD
player. The Model One is also equipped with a front-panel 3.5mm auxiliary input.
The unit's auxiliary inputs support any portable unit with an analog stereo
3.5mm headphone jack output or stereo RCA output.

Note: The two auxiliary inputs operate off of the same circuit so
sources connected to these auxiliary inputs cannot be played simultaneously.

Remote Control

RF Remote Control: The headunit comes supplied with a
full-function 16
key RF wireless remote control. The remote will operate the same functions as
the Model One's control knobs and front-panel buttons. The remote is intended
for use when you are mounting the radio in a location where it is hard to reach.
The remote is also needed when mounting the radio in a remote location which is
hidden to keep your vehicle's factory integrity. The remote has a 16.4' (5
meter) range.

Note: The RF remote measures 2.0" wide x 0.5625" high x 3.375"
deep.

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